LanzaJet finalises Teesside location for its UK SAF facility

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) technology developer and producer LanzaJet announced the selection of the site for their next production facility, Project Speedbird, in Teesside Wilton International in northeastern region of England.

“Wilton International was selected for its strategic location and advanced infrastructure, essential for SAF production. This selection underscores Teesside’s pivotal role in the UK’s energy transition and industrial decarbonisation efforts. By leveraging Wilton International’s capabilities, the project enhances the region’s status as a leader in alternative energy initiatives, contributing significantly to the UK’s clean energy objectives,” said Jimmy Samartzis, CEO of LanzaJet.

The company has partnered with engineering services company Sembcorp Industries to develop an ethanol-to-SAF facility at Wilton International in Teesside, UK.

Through a collaboration with British Airways, Project Speedbird will produce over 90,000 tonnes (30m gallons) of SAF and renewable diesel annually.

The facility will utilise LanzaJet’s proprietary alcohol-to-jet technology, deployed at its Freedom Pines Fuels facility in Georgia, USA, the world’s first commercial ethanol-to-SAF production plant. Project Speedbird will produce SAF from sustainably sourced ethanol.

Project Speedbird will also establish key collaborations across the region to further bolster the local economy.

LanzaJet is leading the ethanol-to-jet pathway and launched its first facility in Soperton, Georgia in January last year.